Light fixture



April 30, 1968 G. D. COOPER 3,381,125

LIGHT FIXTURE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1964 v s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

GEORGE D4 COOPER 2 52M, naw

AT TO RN EYS P 1968 G. D. COOPER 3,381,125

LIGHT FIXTURE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 11) (ID FIGS INVENTOR. GEORGE D COOPER ATTORNEYS A ril 30, 1968 G. D. COOPER LIGHT FIXTURE Original F iled Nov. 27, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 7A 33 37 T J INVEN TOR GEORGE D. COOPER BY FIGJZ 9 ATTQ RNEYS United States Patent 3,381,125 LIGHT FIXTURE George ll). Cooper, 1136 Vista Place, Edmonds, Wash. 98020 Continuation of application Ser. No. 414,089, Nov.

1964. This application June 1, 1967, Ser. No.

17 Claims. ((Zl. Mil-11.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This is a continuation of my copending application Ser. No. 414,089, filed Nov. 27, 1964.

This invention relates in general to a light fixture, and more particularly to a light fixture having an improved housing and reflector arrangement.

The light fixture of the present invention includes a housing having mounted therein a source of radiant energies and a reflector, and a reflecting hood that is capable of further defining the column of light as reflected by the reflector, and which is detachably mounted in the housing so that the hood can be interchanged with other hoods for adjusting the form of the column of light issuing from the light fixture.

Moreover, the light fixture of the present invention is particularly constructed to use a light source of the well known quartz-iodine type, although it should be appreciated that any source of radiant energies may be employed. The quartz-iodine lamp that may be employed is generally elongated and generally provides a line source of radiant energies. Such a lamp is generally referred to as an incandescent lamp and is capable of producing both visible and invisible radiant energies. The light fixture of the present invention is primarily concerned in reflecting the visible radiant energies for it is those energies that produce the light normally desired in such a light fixture. However, it should be appreciated that the reflector may be designed to reflect whatever radiant energies desirable to produce the type of energy needed by any installation.

More particularly, the light fixture of the present invention will preferably employ a dichroic reflector that is capable of reflecting substantially all visible radiant energies directed thereagainst and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst. While the invisible radiant energies referred to include those above and below the range of visible radiant energies, it should be appreciated that the present invention is primarily concerned with those invisible radiant energies that produce heat.

Heretofore, light fixtures of the type herein described utilizing quartz-iodine lamps and dichroic reflectors have been objectionable from the standpoint that the portions of the reflector directly behind the filament of the lamp tend to reflect those invisible radiant energies producing heat that are not transmitted through the reflector, back to the lamp and the filament in the lamp. As a result, the temperature of the lamp is elevated, thereby reducing its overall life.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a light fixture that obviates the above named diiiiculties, and which defines a more ei'licient light fixture and reduces the heat problem around the lamp.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a light fixture employing a reflector having a single or a plurality of segments of transparent material with a coating thereon capable of reflecting substantially all visible radiant energies directed thereagainst and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a light fixture having an improved housing that includes a reflective hood which may be quickly and easily interchanged With other reflective hoods for adjusting the column of light issuing from the fixture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture having an inexpensive housing that is capable of being economically manufactured and easily assembled.

A still further object of this invention is in the provision of a light fixture including a lamp associated with a reflector, wherein the reflector includes a plurality of segments of transparent material having a coating thereon capable of reflecting certain radiant energies and transmitting other radiant energies, and wherein the reflectors are spaced apart to increase the efliciency of the fixture and reduce the heat problem heretofore existing, thereby increasing the life of the lamp and the coating on the segments.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the fixture of the present invention with some parts broken away to show underlying parts;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the fixture in FIG. 1, with some parts broken away to show underlying parts;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the splice box mountable on the back wall of the fixture;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fixture of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view, with some parts broken away to show underlying parts;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of the reflector holder and illustrating the reflector segments held thereby;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the reflector holder, showing one segment partially removed;

FIG. 7A is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 7A7A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a reflector having segments and in arrangement with a source of radiant energy wherein the adjacent edges of the segments are in engagement;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating the spacing of the adjacent edges of the reflector segments;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the spacing to be even greater with respect to the adjacent edges of the reflector segments;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevational view with some parts in section of a reflector arrangement wherein the segments are curvate instead of flat as in FIGS. 81(l;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but illustrating a greater spacing between adjacent edges of the reflector segments;

FIG. 13 is a view somewhat diagrammatic showing another reflector arrangement; and

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of still a further modified reflector arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 14, the light fixture of the present invention includes a housing having top and bottom walls or panels 16 and 17, opposed side walls or panels 18 and 19, and a rear wall or panel 20, all defining an essentially closed housing having a front opening 21 as defined by the top, bottom and side walls, and opposed to the back wall 20.

The side walls 18 and 19 are provided with inwardly turned flanges 18a and 1%, respectively, which mate with the opposed edges of the top and bottom walls 16 and 17. Further, the side walls 18 and 19 terminate short of the rear wall 20 to thereby define ventilating openings 13b and 1%. The top and bottom Walls 16 and 17, in the embodiment shown, are integrally formed with the rear wall 20, although it should be appreciated that these walls may be entirely separately fabricated from the rear wall 20. Suitable fasteners are provided to secure the flanges on the end walls to the top and bottom walls.

Suitably secured to the top and bottom walls 16 and 17 are parallel spaced mounting plates 22 and 23, each of which has secured thereto in aligned relation lamp sockets 24 and 25, FIG. 5. The lamp sockets are designed to receive a double-ended quartz-iodine lamp 26. Such a lamp is well known as an incandescent lamp and includes an elongated filament 27 capable of producing a line source of radiant energies. Such radiant energies include visible and invisible energies, the visible radiant energies commonly referred to as light. The invisible radiant energies above the visible radiant energies produce high heat energy, and it is therefore desirable to control the movement of the radiant energies in order to define an eflicient light fixture capable of long life.

As seen in FIG. 1, electrical conductors 2-8 and 29 extend from the sockets 24 and and into a splice box 30 that is secured to the rear wall 20 of the fixture. These wires are then suitably spliced to other wires that may lead from the splice box and be suitably connected to a source of electricity.

Each of the mounting plates 22 and 23 is suitably flanged at its upper and lower edges to facilitate mounting of the plates and securing of same to the top and bottom Walls 16 and 17. Ventilating holes 31 of any number or size may be provided in the plates 22 and 23 for additional ventilation. While the upper and lower walls 16 and 17 are shown tapering toward the front opening 21, it should be appreciated that these walls may be otherwise arranged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Each of the mounting plates 22 and 23 is further cut away at 82, FIG. 1, and they terminate short of the back wall 20. Preferably, the housing components of the light fixture are made of metal.

A reflector holder 32 is supported between the mounting plates 22 and 23 to mount a reflector between the lamp 26 and the rear wall 20 of the fixture and to define a reflected column of visible radiant energies issuing from the front opening 21. The reflector holder includes upper and lower bars 33 and 34 suitably flanged at opposite ends for mounting on the plates 22 and 23, interconnected by opposed end bars 35 and 36. The opposed end bars 35 and 36 are preferably integral with the upper and lower bars 33 and 34, and include upper portions 35a and 36a and lower portions 35b and 36b. The lower portions are angularly positioned relative the upper portions as shown in FIG. 7A. Brackets 35c and 360 are suitably secured to the end bars defining guideways for receiving the reflector segments 37 and 38. The brackets are relatively Z-shaped in cross section and provided with tabs 39a, 39b, 40a and ltlb for holding the reflector segments in the holder. The tabs 39a and 40a are shown in position to receive a segment, while the tabs 39b and ttlb are shown bent over locking the segment 38 in place. The embodiment of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 merely illustrates the holder construction and where the 4 adjacent edges of the reflector segments are in engagement with each other, and the inner section is directly behind the lamp 26. In accordance with the invention, the adjacent edges of the reflector segments are preferably spaced apart as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, especially where it is necessary to allow ventilation through the reflecter.

The reflector segments include a transparent carrier 41, preferably glass, having a dichroic coating 42 on one surface thereof capable of reflecting substantially all visible radiant energies thereagainst and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst. Thus those radiant energies producing high heat energy will be transmitting through the reflector. However, some of the radiant energies producing heat are reflected, and in the embodiment of FIG. 8 would be reflected back to the lamp 26, thereby subjecting it to excessive heat and reducing its life. Moreover, a hot spot sometimes develops in a fixture having the reflector arrangement of FIG. 8 at a point along the reflector arrangement on the junction or intersection of the segments. Inasmuch as the coating on the reflectors can withstand only so much heat, failure is sometimes evidenced by this heat problem.

Thus, the present invention where in the adjacent edges of the reflector segments are spaced defines an elongated slot opening 43 behind the lamp and at an area where hot spot problems occur where the adjacent edges of the reflector segments abut. Thus the elongated slot permits the passing of all radiant energies directed therethrough, together with ventilation of the reflector and lamp arrangement. Thus the heat problems heretofore encountered are avoided. It should be appreciated that the spacing or distance between the adjacent edges of the reflector segments should be at least equal to the width of the filament 27, although it may be greater, as especially illustrated in FIG. 10.

It should be noted that the reflector segments 37 and 38 illustrated in FIGS. 7-10 are flat, however, it should be appreciated that these segments may be curvate as the segment 44 and 45 in FIGS. 11 and 12. These embodiments also show the spacing of the adjacent edges of the reflector segments to define a slot 46. While the illustrated embodiments show only two segments for each reflector, it should be appreciated that any number of segments may be employed.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a reflecting hood 47 is providd within the housing 15 between the reflector arrangement and the front opening to further define the column of visible radiant energies issuing from the light fixture. This reflective hood includes opposed, diverging side walls 48 and 49, and opposed top and bottom Walls 50 and 51, all suitably secured together to define a flaring structure. Preferably the surfaces of the side, top and bottom walls are of such a nature as to efficiently reflect the radiant energies directed thereagainst. For example, the walls, if made of aluminum reflecting material, would be efiicient, or the walls may be of any metal and coated for reflectivity. Opposed flanges 52 and 53 are provided at the outer ends of the side walls 48 and 49. Snap-in clips 54 are secured to the flanges 52 and 53 and adapted to snap into openings 55 provided in flanges 56 and 57 that are carried at the outer ends of the plates 22 and 23. Thus, the reflecting hood 47 is detachably mounted within the fixture housing and to the plates 22 and 23, whereby the hood may be easily and quickly removed and/ or interchanged with another hood to change the column of light issuing from the fixture. While not shown, it should be appreciated that any type of mounting brackets may be employed to mount the light fixture on a stand or on a wall or ceiling.

In order to preclude the reflection of the infrared radi ant energies or those radiant energies that are in the reds at the upper end of the visible portion of the spectrum, an absorption and reflecting unit 60 is mounted behind the reflector segments 37 and 38, and which extends transverse the housing between the mounting plates 22 and 23.

This unit includes inclined walls 61 and 62 joined together along one edge which extends parallel to the reflector segments and substantially in line with the filament 27 of the lamp 26. The inclined walls 61 and 62 at their non-intersecting sides are connected to additional panels 63 and 64 which extend vertically through the fixture housing. The surfaces of the walls 61 and 62 and the panels 63 and 64- are blackened by any suitable means so as to absorb as much as possible the heat and infrared radiant energies passing through the reflector segments 37 and 38. Because the panels or walls 61 and 62 are angularly positioned, any re-radiation or reflection of radiant energies passing through the segments will be directed toward the top and bottom walls of the housing. This avoids reflection of these energies back through the segments 37 and 38 which would be objectionable inasmuch as they would tend to destroy the quality of light being reflected by the reflector segments. Thus, any of the radiant energie passing through the reflector segments are not re-reflected back into the light column.

The inner surfaces of the housing walls may be suitably blackened to further absorb the heat so that the heat passes outwardly through the side walls of the housing more readily.

Referring yet to FIGS. 1 and 2, if it is desired to further limit the infrared or heat energy in the light column, an infrared reflecting mirror 65 may be mounted in the reflecting hood 47 by providing elongated slotted brackets 66 and 67 which are respectively attached to the top and bottom walls 50 and 51 of the hood. While the mirror 65 is shown to be flat, it will be appreciated that it may be curvate, if desired. The mirror 65 would comprise a substrate of glass, and preferably a heat resisting glass, that is coated on one side, and preferably the side facing the lamp 26, to reflect substantially all or any part of those radiant energies that produce heat and are in the spectral Wavelength range of .76 to 1.5 microns. Thus, the reflector or mirror 65 may be referred to as a hot mirror and would serve to remove substantally all of the heat from the light column. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper mirror holding bracket 66 may be permanently mounted such as by rivets, while the lower bracket 67 may be removably mounted such as by self-tapping screws.

Since the present invention is intended to employ lamps of high wattage, it i necessary to permit maximum air circulation within the housing to reduce hot spots. For example, as seen in FIG. 5, the reflector holder 32 is cut out at opposite ends at 68 to permit air circulation in and around the ends of the lamp 26 and around the lamp sockets 24 and 25 to thereby help reduce the heat concentration.

It should be appreciated that a single reflector segment may be held by the reflector holder, or a reflector hav ing any number of segments may be employed. As shown in FIG. 13, a reflector assembly is shown that includes three flat reflector segments 70, 71 and 72 arranged adja' cent to the lamp 26. The reflector segment 70 is positioned directly behind the lamp 26, while the segments 71 and 72 are angularly positioned relative to the segment 70 and on the opposite sides of the lamp 26. The embodiment of FIG. 14 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 13 only in that curvate reflector segments 73 and 74 are substituted for the segments 71 and 72 in the embodiment of FIG. 13. It should also be appreciated that the segments are all constructed as above described in that they include dichroic coatings on glass substrates that are capable of reflecting substantially all of the visible radiant energies and transmitting substantially all of the invisible radiant energies.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A light fixture comprising a housing having a front opening, means within said housing receiving and supporting a lamp capable of producing a source of visible and invisible radiant energies, reflector means supported within said housing behind said lamp for reflecting substantially all of the visible radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp in a column out through said front opening and transmitting substantially all other radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp, and a reflection and absorption unit behind said reflector means against which impinge the radiant energies transmitted through said reflector means to preclude reflection back through said reflector means of any radiant energies transmitted therethrough.

2. A light fixture as defined by claim 1, wherein said reflection and absorption unit includes a plurality of angularly related blackened surfaces facing said reflector means.

3. A light fixture as defined by claim 1, wherein said reflector means includes a plurality of segments, and said segments being spaced apart directly behind said source and said column to define an opening to allow all of the radiant energies emitted from the source in the direction of the opening to pass through the opening without impinging on the segments.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the segments are flat.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the segments are curvate.

6. A light fixture comprising a housing having a front opening, means within said housing receiving and supporting a lamp capable of producing a source of visible and invisible radiant energies, means supporting a reflector means Within said housing behind said lamp for reflecting substantially all of the visible radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp in a column out through'said front opening and transmitting substantially all other radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp, a reflecting hood within said housing between said reflector and said front opening having diverging top, bottom and opposed side reflecting surfaces for further defining the column of visible radiant energies as directed through said front opening, and means for detachably mounting said hood Within said housing, said detachable mounting means including spring clips on said hood coacting with openings formed in said supporting means.

7. A light fixture was defined by claim 6, and a reflection and absorption unit behind said reflector means against which impinge the radiant energies transmitted through said reflector means to preclude reflection back through said reflector means of any radiant energies transmitted therethrough.

8. A light fixture as set forth in claim 7, wherein said reflection and absorption unit includes a plurality of connected angularly related blackened surfaces facing said reflector means.

9. A light fixture comprising a housing having top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front, parallel spaced mounting plates secured to the top and bottom Walls and extending between the open front and the rear wall, a pair of aligned lamp sockets carried by said plates adapted to receive a double-ended elongated lamp capable of producing a line source of visible and invisible radiant energies, a reflector holder mounted between said plates and receiving a reflector means to reflect substantially all visible radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp out through said front opening and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp, a reflection and absorption unit behind said reflector means to preclude reflection of any radiant energies impinging thereon back through said reflector means, and a reflecting hood detachably secured to said plates and extending between said reflector means and said open front, said hood including a plurality of reflective surfaces diverging from said reflector means.

10. A light fixture comprising a housing having top,

bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front, parallel spaced mounting plates secured to the top and bottom walls and extending between the open front and the rear Wall and in spaced relation from the side Walls, a pair of aligned lamp sockets carried by said plates, a double-ended elongated lamp received by said sockets and producing a line source of visible and invisible radiant energies, a reflector holder mounted between said plates, a reflector carried by said holder between said lamp and said rear wall and having a transparent carrier with a coating on one surface reflecting substantially all visible radiant energies directed thereagainst and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp, and a reflecting hood detachably secured to said plates and extending between said reflector and said open front to further form the column of visible radiant energies as reflected from the reflector.

11. The light fixture of claim 16, wherein said side Walls terminate short of the rear wall and define therewith ventilating openings in the housing.

12. A light fixture comprising a housing having top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front, parallel spaced mounting plates secured to the top and bottom walls and extending between the open front and the rear wall and in spaced relation from the side walls, a pair of aligned lamp sockets carried by said plates, a double-ended elongated lamp received by said sockets and producing a line source of visible and invisible radiant energies, a reflector holder mounted between said plates, a reflector carried by said holder between said lamp and said rear Wall and having a transparent carrier with a coating on one surface reflecting substantially all visible radiant energies directed thereagainst and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst by said lamp, a reflecting hood detachably secured to said plates and extending between said reflector and said open front to further form the column of visible radiant energies as reflected from the reflector, and means supported by said plates and between the reflector and rear wall for reflecting the invisible radiant energies transmitted through said reflector towards the top and bottom walls.

13. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein the surface of said last mentioned reflector means is blackened.

14. A light fixture comprising a housing having top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front, parallel spaced mounting plates secured to the top and bottom walls and extending between the open front and the rear wall and in spaced relation from the side walls, a pair of aligned lamp sockets carried by said plates, a double-ended elongated lamp received by said sockets and producing a line source of visible and invisible radiant energies, a reflector holder mounted between said plates, a reflector carried by said holder between said lamp and said rear wall and having at least a pair of adjacent segments arranged in relation to said lamp toreflect a column of visible radiant energies through said open front, each segment having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface reflecting substantially all visible radiant energies directed thereagainst and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst, the adjacent edges of said segments being spaced apart behind said source and said column to define an elongated slot opening to allow all of the radiant energies emitted from the source in the direction of and within the boundaries of the opening to pass through the opening without impinging on the segments, and a reflecting hood detachably secured to said plates and extending between said reflector and said open front to further form the column of visible radiant energies as reflected from the reflector.

15. A light fixture comprising a housing having top, bottom and side walls, a rear wall and an open front, parallel spaced mounting plates secured to the top and bottom walls and extending between the open front and the rear wall and in spaced relation from the side walls, a pair of aligned lamp sockets carried by said plates, a double-ended elongated lamp received by said sockets and producing a line source of visible and invisible radiant energies, at reflector holder mounted between said plates, a reflector carried by said holder between said lamp and said rear wall and having at least a pair of adjacent segments arranged in relation to said lamp to reflect a column of visible radiant energies through said open front, each segment having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface reflecting substantially all visible radiant energies directed thereagainst and transmitting substantially all invisible radiant energies directed thereagainst, the adjacent edges of said segments being spaced apart behind said source and said column a distance substantially equal to the width of said source to define an elongated slot opening to allow all of the radiant energies emitted from the source in the direction of and within the boundaries of the opening to pass through the opening without impinging on the segments, and a reflecting hood detachably secured to said plates and extending between said reflector and said open front to further form the column of visible radiant energies as reflected from the reflector.

16. The light fixtureof claim 15, wherein said segments are flat.

17. The light fixture of claim 15, wherein said segments are curvate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,740 2/1933 Walsh 240-4653 XR 2,064,253 12/1936 Fortney 240-4653 XR 2,257,232 9/1941 Flint et a1. 240-47 2,613,465 10/1952 View 240-114 XR 3,099,403 7/1963 Strawick 240-47 3,239,660 3/1966 Hall 240-103 XR 3,255,345 6/1966 Chadwick 240-47 3,263,584 8/1966 Knus -11 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

FRED L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

